St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-06-30
Some One Has Evidently Blundered in
Getting Up the High Lii
cense Law.
A Provision That Every Other Year
Will Compel Double License
Fee Of $4,000,
Which Will Amount TO Practical rr0hi-
bition in the Cases Of Most :,
Saloon Men. II
The Police Commission Issues Instruc-
tons 10 the Force With Regard j
to the New Regime.
"Here's a HOW-de-dO."

"Here's How-de-dO." o.
An important point in the high
license law is creating considerable dis
cuSsiOn and something like cOnsterna-
ton in the ranks of the liquor interest.
1t looks as though some one has blum
dered in framing the law, OF that an
effort at virtual prohibition has been
made without general knowledge. The
conclusion of the third section of the
law is as follows:
Provided, That no license shall be granted
for a longer period than one year, or for
period beyond twenty days after the annual
election in such village or city next ensuing
after the date of such license.
1t would seem from this that next year
every retail liQuOre dealer must pay
$1,000 for license from July to Nov.
"a, as the license issued on July will
run only to a period twenty days after
the city election in 1888. ItalsO appears
that if license shall issue after that
time, to July !, 1889, another $1,000
must be paid together, before a license
can issue, and any attempt to change
this is misdemeanor on the part OF any
alderman. The conclusion is that in
in 1888 the license from July, to July,
will be $4,000, which is practical prOhi-
bition. This phase of the law was gen
orally discussed yesterday, without
reaehinf any satisfactory conclusion.
City Attorney Smith said he preferred
expressing no opinion at present, as the
council would undoubtedly ask his Off
cial views in short time, but an attor'
ney of evual standing gave the follow
ing:
The last legislature repealed the charter
authority of the council to pro-rate licenses
and put in force the high license law as
against any charter provisions coming with
in its provisions. This ST 900 icenseis a fee
and must be paid i'll one account, at one
time and for a license for one year, except
when thatyear includes an election, in which
eyentth license period ends twenty days after
the city or village election. For instance,
the license period in 1888 will run from
July to Nov. d or little less than five
months, but for this period the license will
be 81 900. In st. Paul the period will ex-
tend to twenty days after their spring cleo
ton, or about June l, and the council cannot
issue pro rata license. To my mind this is
simply n blunder in the legislature, and is of
piece with all the legislation Of last winter.
1t is little singular that with all of
the discussions of high license this
point has not been raised before; but it
is now making up for lost time, and yes
terday created quite sensation among
liquor men and among some of the
aldermen.
THE POLICE COMMISSION
yesterday held consultation with City
Attorney Seagrave Smith concerning
the 81, 600 license law, which goes into
force tomorrow. His suggestions re-
suited in the adoption of the following
resolution:
The superintendent of police is hereby in
structed to direct License Inspector Ray to
notify all persons who have applied for retail
liquor dealers licenses that upon payment of
the sum required by law July into the city
treasurers hands, a receipt will be given and
a license issued when said party or parties
have complied with all the other require
ments of the law, and unless this PAYMENTS
made promptly, all places doing aretail liquor
business will be closed. In the event of no
license being granted for any reason, said
money will be refunded.